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Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,828

E. A. CUNNIFF PILB FABRIC EDGE TRIMMINGMACHINE Filed May 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l A T TORNf Y E. A. CUNNIFF FILE FABRIC EDGE TRIMMING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1928 a, w. W

ATTORNEY Cab Patented Jan. 1;,

UNITE s'rArss arsnr OFFICE.

EDWARD A. G'UNNIFF, THOMPSUNVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BIGELOW- HARTFORD CARPET COMPllrllY, GI" 'IZ-ZOTWIPSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- 'IION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILE-FAB 1C EDGE-TRIMMING MACHINE.

Application filed May 2, 18338.

This invention relates to machines for trimming the edges of textile fabrics and more particularly for trimming the projecting pile threads or fibres along the edges of pile fabrics.

In the production of pile fabrics it is now the common practice to provide a backing fabric of woven material to which the pile loops, either cut or uncut, are secured. The selvage edges of the backing fabric usually present no outwardly extending weft or filling threads, but the pile loops which are secured to the backing fabric during the weaving operation are liable to have portions thereof extending beyond the selvage edges of the backing fabric, a condition which is particularly observable where the pile loops are of the cut variety, and with the result that the selvage edge of the pile fabric is liable to present an uneven appearance.

An important feature of the present invention. therefore consists in means for trimniing or cut-ting the laterally projecting pile threads or fibres along the edges of pile fabrics and especially along the selvage edges thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the pile fabric, the edges of which are to be trimmed, is fed and guided longitudinally past cooperating cutters which act upon the pile threads along the ed es of the '53 fabric and trim them in a manner to present clean, straight edges to the fabric as a whole.-

Since the pile threads or fibres along the edges of the pile fabric may project laterally and downwardly, and consequently not pass into the cutting zone, another important feature of the present invention consists in providing a pile thread lifter which acts upon the ct" re pile threads as the fabric is fed towards the cutting station to position such pile threads and fibres for the action of the cutters.

Another important feature of the invention consists in cutting mechanism which comprises a stationary or fixed cutter having its cutting edge disposed on or above the upper plane of the backing fabric and a cut-. ter carrier having a plurality of cutting blades which co-operate with the fixed cutter on or above the plane of the upper surface of the backing fabric to trim the pile threads and fibres along the edges thereof.

The invention and new features thereof and novel combination of parts will best be Serial No. 274,540.

made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a trimming machine for textile fabrics containing the present invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one good form of pile lifter for lifting the pile threads and fibres along the edge of the fabric as it is fed to the cutting mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view at one side of the ma chine showing the relation of machine parts;

Fig. 3 is a sectionalclevation on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detached detail, parts broken away, showing the action of the pile lifter and cutting mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the pile fabric, and table or support, showing the relation of the cutting mechanism with the pile threads and fibres during the cutting operation.

The nn chine containing the present invention may be associated with the usual pile s iearing machine, if desired, but, as shown in the present instance, the machine of the present invention may be utilized apart from the shearing machine and have the fabric passed th rethrough in a separate fabric manipulation.

The frame of the edge trimming machine may be of any usual character and as shown comprises the top plate 1 which may be conveniently supported at each side of the machine by uprights 2, only a part of which is indicated by Fig. 1. Rising from the top plate 1 is a bearing block or support 3, one at each side of the machine, for the appropriate support of the rotary cutter shaft 4 which extends transversely between the bearing blocks 8, and may be driven from any suitable source of power, not shown.

Mounted upon the cutter shaft 4 is the rotary cutter carrier, which in the present instance of the invention, comprises a hub por ion 5 mounted on the rotary cutter shaft for adjustment longitudinally thereof. The retary cutter carrier is preferably splined to the cutter shaft 4, as indicated in Fig. 2, wherein a keyway 6 is formed longitudinally in the rotary cutter shaft 4 for the reception of the key 7 which engages a corresponding that the guide roll 30 may rotate under the pull of the pile fabric.

Each of the rms is provided. with a pile lifting; portion 32 and a fabric edge guide The pile lifting portion 39. is shown as constituted by a gradually rising" incline towards the hub $20, the effect being that as the edges of the fabric pass along the :dge guides any pile threads which are depressed along the edges will ride over the pile lifter 32 and be raised into the cutting zone of the cutting; inecluinism. To insure this funct-iona action of the pile lifters, the ends of the arms 25 are provided with a bearing 34: for a pile fabric depressor or rod 35 wnich extends between the arms 29 and under which the pile fabric passes on its way to the cutting mechanism. The rod or guide 35 may be appropriately secured to the arms 99 by set screws 36.

ills hereinbefore indicated, the purpose of the cutting mechanism is to cut the pile thr-ads and. fibres along the edges of the fabric abore'thc backing thereof to provide a clean straight edge thereto, a condition whico is more clearly indicated in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 5, it rill be noted that the cutting edge 37 of the fined cutter 19 is disposed in the plane of or slightly above the plai e of the upper surface of the backing faln'ic 7) from which the pile threads project, with the result that the combined action of the fixed and rotary cutters trims the pile threads above the backing fabric 7) as the pile fabric is fed pastthe cutting mechanism over the supports or tables 24L and without at the some time injuring or cutting the selvage edge of the backingfabric.

here the machine of the present invention. is employed independently of the shearing mechanis-sm some means is desirz ble for feeding th i fabric through the machine, and to this end a spilred roll 38 may be employed to engage the fabric, as indicated in Fi e. 1, 2 and 3, and effect its feed lOli3li1tLtil1i1tillY through the machine. 'he spiked roll 38 is appropriately driven at the desired speed in the direction of the. arrow, as shown in 1, but since the driving mechanism for the spiked roll. forms no essential part of the present invention. the details of such driving mechanism, which may be of usual character, are no". illustrated, but rill be clearly understood by those skilled in the art.

lironi the construction described it will be ppurent that as the pile fabric is fed tlu'ough 'e machine in the direction of tin arrow, t. it will pass over the guide roll under in rod and its edges will be guided by the uidinu surfaces 33 of the arms 29, one at each side of the machine. and as the edges of the fabric pass along the guiding surfaces 33, the iiirojecting pile threads along the edges of the fabric will be engaged by the pile lifters 32 and raised into position for the action of the cutting mechanism, which acts l l ades n b i ll. not only have cutting edges 13 to cooperate with the fixed cutter 19, but the end por on of each cutting); blade '11 is also provided with a cutting edge let which, as the falwic is moving continuously between the cutting portions of the fixed and rotary cutters, rill act upon the projecting fibres with a sliding: out to insure that the entire edge portions of the f: brie shall be properly trimmed.

Vi hat is claimed is:

1. ln a machine for trimming pile threads along the edge of a pile faln'ic, the con1bination of a table or support for the pile fabric, means for feeding; the pile fabric over the surface of toe table or support, a fixed cut havine; its cutting edge above the backing of the pile fabric, and a cutter coope rating with the fixed cutter to trim the pile threads prolllctllll' above and beyond the edge of the backing of the pile fabric.

9/. In a machine for trimming pile threz cs along the edge of a pile fabric, the combination of a table or support for the pile fabric, means for feeding the pile fabric over the surface of the table or support, a pile thread lifter for raising pile threads along the cdgi 'c of the pile fabric, a fixed cutter having its cutting dge above the backing of the pile fabric, and a cutter cooperating with the fixed cutter to trim the pile threads projecting); above and beyond the edge of the baciring of the pile fabric. y

3. In a machine for trimming,' pile threads along the edge of a pile fabric, the combina-- tion of a SUPPOli' for the pile fabric, means for feeding the pile fabric over the support,

pile lifter for raising; pile threads projectinp; beyond the edge of the backing fabric as the pile fabric is fed over the support, and cooperating cutters for cutting the pile threads along the edge of the pile fabric.

t. ln a machine for trimming pile threads along the edge of a pile fabric, the combination of L. support for the pile fabric, means for feeding the pile fabric over the support, a pile lifter for rinsing pile threads projecting beyond the edge of the backing fabric as the pile fabric is fed over the support, and cooperating cutters having their cutting); edges acting; above the backing; of the pile fabric for cutting the pile threads raised by the pile lifter along the edge of the pile fabric.

5. In a machine for trimming the pile threads along the self age of a pile fabric, the combination of a support over which the pile fabric is fed, a fixed cutter, means for guiding the pile fabric past the fixed cutter to present pile threads along the selvage of the pile fabric to the cutter, and a rotary cutter cooperating with pile threads along the edge of the pile fabric above the backing of the pile fabric.

6. In a machine for trimming pile threads along the selvage of a pile fabric, the combination of a support over which the pile fabric is fed, a tired cutter, means for guiding the pile fabric past the fixed cutter to present pile threads along the selvage of the pile fabric to the cutter, a rotary cutter cooperating with the fixed cutter to trim pile threads along the edge of the pile fabric above the backing of the pile fabric, and means for relatively adjusting the cutters laterally towards and from each other.

7. In a selvage edge trimi'ning machine for trimming the pile threads along the edge of the backing fabric, the combination of a fixed cutter, a rotary cutter carrier having a series of cutting blades to successively cooperate with the fitted cutter to trim the pile threads projecting beyond the selvage of the backing fabric, guides for directing the fabric it is fed past the cutters, and means for inde pendently moving each of the cutting blades laterally on the rotary cutter carrier relatively towards and from the cutting plane of the stationary cutter.

8 In a selvage edge trimming machine for trimming pile threads projecti g along the selvage of the backing fabric, the con'ibination of a fixed cutter, a *otary cutter carrier having a series of cutting blades 2 rrcngg ed at an angle to the radius of the rotary cutter carrier to cooperate with the Iii-zed cutter, guides for directing the fabric past the cutters, and means for directing LllO pile threacs along the selvageof the backing fabric into the cutting Zone above the backii t fabric that the surface pile threads extending beyond the edge of the backing fabric may be trimmed.

t). In a selvage edge trimmer for trimming the surface pile threads that project beyond the selvage of textile fabrics, the combination of a fixed cutter, a rotary cutter carrier having a series of cutting blades, each provided with. a side cutting edge to cooperate with the listed cutter and an end cutting edge of substantial extent against which the projecting pile threads are moved as the fabric is f d past the rotary cutters, and means for guiding the fabric to present surface pile fibres along its edge to the action of the cutters.

l0. In aselvage edge trimmer for tea :ile

the fixed cutter to trim fabrics, the combination of a fixed cutter, a rotary cutter carrier having a series of cutting blades, each provided with a side cutting ecge to cooperate with the fixed cutter and an end cutting edge to act independently of the fixed cutter upon and to cut the fibres with a slicing cut as the rubric is fed past the rotary cutters, means for guiding the fabric to present fibres along its edge to the action of the cutters, and a pile thread lifter to act along the edge of the fabric to lift the edge fibres above the edge of the backing fabric into the range of action of the cutters.

ll. In a selvage edge trimmer for textile fabrics, the combination of a table or support over which the fabric fed, a fixed cutter mounted to act upon the fibres above the edge of the backing fabric as it is fed over said support, a rotary shafthaving a rotary cutter carrier provided with a series of indegend ent-ly mounted cutting blades, means for securing the cutting blades to the carr.i1-n','devices for regulating the cutting relation of the individual cutting blades and fined cutter, and means for feeding the fabric over the table or support to present projecting edge pile fibres above the backing fabric to the action of the cutters.

E2. in a machine for trimming the edges of textile fabrics, the combination of a fixed cutter, a rotary cutter carrier having a series of cutting blades to successively cooperate with the fixed cutter to trim off the surface pile fibres along the edge of the backing fab-- ric, and means acting along the edge of the fabric as it is fed to raise the surface pile fibres which project eyond the selvage of the backing fabric into the field of action of the cutters.

13. In a machine for trimn'iing the surface pile fibres along the edge of the backing fabric, the combination of a table or support over which the pile fabric is fed, cooperating cutters for trimming surface pile fibres that project beyond the edge of the backing fabric, a fabric guide, and a pile lifter which acts on projecting pile fibres along the edge of the backing fabric to progressively raise the pile fibre, into the Zone of action of the cutters above the edge of the backing fabric.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

l'QDll U ftl) A. CUNNIFF. 

